Lighting fixture



J 1943- s. R. NAYSMITH' 2,320,829

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 18, 1941 I'IIIIIII'II INVENTOR ATTORNEYPatented June 1, 1943 I 2,32asz9 LIGHTING FIXTURE Shirley R. Naysmith,Meriden, Conn, assignor to I Y The Miller Company, Meriden, Cnn., acorporation of Connecticut Application April 18, 1941, Serial No.389,144

4 Claims. I (.01. 240-78) The present invention relates to lightingfixtures, and is more particularly directed toward direct lightingfixtures adapted to employ fluorescent lamps.

The present invention contemplates a multiple lamp fluorescent lightingfixture wherein the lamps are disposed about a body of semi-cylindricalcross section, and wherein the fixture has end plates which conceal thestructural parts of the fixture, these end plates being provided withsurfaces adapted to be illuminated by scattered and reflected lightdirected on to them.

A further object of the'present invention is to provide a multiple lampfluorescent lighting fixture with an improved form of closure which maybe readily made to conform to the shape of end plates carried by thefixture and avoid the use of frames for the closure.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, an embodiment in which the invention may take form, it beingunderstood that the drawing are illustrative of the invention ratherthan limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pendent lighting fixture embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the body of the fixture with associatedparts;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view with parts in section along the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross se tional View on the line 4-4of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View on the line 55 of Figure2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the closure; and

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the placing of the closurein position.

The fixture may have a suitable form of ceiling canopy indicated at II]with pendent tubes II, II. The lower ends of these tubes are threaded asindicated at I2 to receive nuts I3 and I4. The tubes pass through crossstraps I5, I5. These cross straps are clamped between the nuts asindicated.

A fixture body I6 of semi-cylindrical contour is flanged inwardly asindicated at I1, I! to stiffen it, and these flanges are secured to theends of the straps I5 preferably by welding. The ends of the body arealso stiffened by cross straps I8, I8 welded in place.

The fixture body I6 supports short plates I9,

and these plates support the fluorescent lamp auxiliaries indicated at20, 20a. The body I6 also supports fluorescent lamp sockets 2|, theseprojecting down through holes in the body and being arranged in pairs soas to support fluorescent lamps indicated at 22. The wiring chamberflected downwardly and outwardly.

End plates generally indicated by the reference character 24 are securedto the body by clips and screws indicated at 25 and 26. These end plateshave inwardly extending flanges 21 spaced from the lamps, as will beclear from the drawing. The end plates also have inwardly drawncylindrical elements 28 apertured as indicated at 29. These cylindricalelements are approximately the same radius as the cylindrical body I6.The inner portions of the end plates are flattened as indicated at 3Band inside this flattened area the end plates have outwardly bulgingconical portions 3| which may be of rippled contour for ornamentalpurposes.

Some of the light which is scattered between the flanges 21 and the bodyI6 will pass out through the windows 29 as indicated at 29 and convergetowards the horizontal axis of the fixture. This light falls on portions3I of the end plates so as to illuminate the same.

Where it is desired to employ the fixture without any diffusing coverabout the lamps the parts so far described may be employed, and thelamps would be exposed between the end plates. Where it is desired toenclose the fixture the flanges 21, 21 are employed to support a closure32, which may be made of a sheet of plastic diffusing material of properlength to fit between the flanges and of such a width as to extend fromthe topof the flange at one side to the top of the flange at the otherside of the fixture.

The plastic material is provided with stiffening members 33 which may bein the form of channels having inwardly extending flanges 34. Thesechannels are secured to the plastic material by pins 35 extendingthrough slots 36 so that the plastic material may stretch relative tothe flanges. The channels 33 may be longer than the closure so as tocome opposite the cross straps I8, I8 and the channels and closure maybe securely held in place by four spring fingers 31 secured to thesecross straps by screws 31a. The springs 31 bear on the flanges 34. Twolonger fingers 38, 38 are carried at the center of the middle coverplate and bear on the top of the channel. The closure may be made of asheet of plastic diffusing material with the channels secured to it.This material is flexible so that the closure may be passed downwardlyfrom the vertical position indicated in Figure 7 between the flanges 21,21 of the end plates and pushed on around into the final positionindicated in Figure 3. The pressure of the springs 31 and 38 will holdthe plastic sheet downagainst the flanges 21, 21 so that the sheetassumes a smooth even contour. The sheet may be readily removed forcleaning, or shifted sidewise to obtain access to a lamp.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements may be made other than is herein dislosed,and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a semi-cylindrical bodyhaving a reflecting exterior, end plates carried by the body andextending laterally of and below the body, fluorescent lamps supportedoutside the body, the end plates having inwardly extendingsemi-cylindrical flanges beyond the lamps for reflecting light generallytoward the axis of the body and away from the lamps, inwardly extendingsemi-cylindrical elements having windows to transmit the reflected lightand outwardly inclined surfaces above the said elements to intercept thelight transmitted through the windows and be rendered luminous thereby.

2. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flangesand windows of the end plates are concentric with the body and theinclined surface is generally conical.

3. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the windowsare at substantially the same radius as the body.

4. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a semi-cylindrical bodyhaving a reflecting exterior, end plates carried by the body andextending laterally of and below the body, fluorescent lamps supportedoutside the body, the end plates having inwardly extendingsemi-cylindrical flanges concentric with the body, a diffusing screencomprising a sheet of plastic having stifiening members along its edges,the plastic sheet having a length equal to the spacing of the flangesand a width equal to the arcuate length of the flanges and beingsufficiently flexible to permit assembly by passing it downwardly at oneside of the fixture between the end plates and inside the flanges untilthe entering edge comes opposite the other side of the fixture, andsprings acting on the stifiening mem-- bars to hold the sheet againstthe fianges so that it assumes a smooth semi-cylindrical formation.

SHIRLEY R. NAYSMITH.

